MaxLinear, Inc. Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Stock-Based Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details Textuals)

Stock-Based Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details Textuals) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	May 13, 2016	Aug. 20, 2015	May 14, 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Stock Options	$ 1,100		$ 1,100
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term			1 year 5 months 10 days
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	5,102	$ 4,794	$ 10,211	$ 8,513
Shares Issued upon Settlement of Employee Bonus Plan					0.2	0.3	0.2
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Outstanding	15,700	12,300	23,100	15,200
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Other Than Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value	75,300		75,300
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Intrinsic Value	3,200	1,100	$ 5,200	$ 1,300
Restricted Stock Unit and Restricted Stock Award [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value			$ 18.15	$ 9.98
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term			2 years 11 months 2 days
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized	45,300		$ 45,300
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Grant Date Intrinsic Value			$ 0
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term			3 years 2 months 9 days
Employee Stock Option [Member] \| Entropic Communications Stock Compensation [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	$ 238	$ 2,400	$ 283	$ 2,400